We've been very happy with our Mendota Hearth insert. It's very quiet unless you put the fan on a really high setting.

I have a Valor insert. Works fine. I selected that one because it was the least offensive that fit. (I had to use an insert when I did an addition that put the new roof too close to the chimney.)

I did keep the original brass hood and screen in place so that it isn't really obvious when not in use. There isn't a way to make fake logs look good, although I'm sure most would think my 1950s fireplace is an eyesore anyway. :)

I had 4 gas FP’s in our Victorian in AL.We used all of them every winter. We did two of them with new inserts and they were Valor. Excellent product used all winter every winter from 2007-2017 .

There isn't a way to make fake logs look good

This was what I always thought, but I very much like our fake logs in our Town and Country, which is why my first thought was to use them

I actually like the ones that are not fake logs--the ones with pretty glass or odd proportions. They have to be in the correct place of course. I'd have no problem with those in a contemporary or otherwise cool home.

Another Mendotta fan here. They have a wide variety of styles and you can pick the kind of log you like. It's been 30 years since we bought our first insert and I was impressed with how much nicer they are today with all kinds of options. Ours has twin tier log arrangement and the ability to have the flames come our the front tier or both. There are 5 different heat settings and it even has internal lights - just in case you want to add electric light to your logs.

I just turned mine on at the highest setting - once it warms up there will be more glow from embers.

Before we found out we could not replace the log set in our ventless gas fireplace I was researching white birch look log sets. A few were fabulous! Did not keep any of the sites but they should be easy enough to find, Lighter color (silvery white) logs look far more realistic IMO and cuter in all seasons.

Ours is not an insert, but we went with Mendota because their unit looked most realistic. Back when we put it in, though, we didn't have the option for electronic ignition. I wish we did as it annoys me to see that flame burning all the time in the cold season. I'm sure they're available now...

We went with Mendota as well in the family room - great heat output and unit. FV33i with white birch log set (swapped out from the oak I first ordered).

I prefer the standing gas stove in our kitchen though - it's just so very pretty! Hearthstone Stowe.

And that's the Frame TV above it, featuring Hunter for the day :)

A great resource is the Hearth forum, on which I've seen many comments to people preferring to add a standing stove vs. an insert.

Here was a stove with which I was obsessed for the longest time: (Jillian Harris with Fireclay tile). I loved this mantel - it was the inspiration for our new one.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing what you select!

I have a Valor insert with fake coal rather than fake logs.

I have a different fireplace front than this one, but the guts are the same model.

We’re also in the market for a gas insert. We used our old gas logs this past winter during a prolonged cold spell, more so than we’d ever done before. We noticed that the majority of our house plants showed distress, dropping leaves, etc.

Our local fireplace retailer only carries Heat & Glo, Quadra Fire and White Mountain Hearth so our replacement will probably be one of these brands.

We had one in our second home put in. Loved it. W/O a fan it's all just looks. I agree the new logs are very realistic. I would love to put an insert in our wood burning fireplace but we live in the woods and the fuel to burn is fall all around us daily!!

We inherited the most beautiful gas log set from the previous owners. I just cleaned them for the first time (running water only to remove the creosote.) They are the most realistic gas logs that I have ever seen. The stamp on the logs says 1990 and if that is true, they have held up beautifully (plus, they are heavy as heck!)

https://rasmussengaslogs.com

I have no brand suggestions as I have a two-sided fireplace, but I like the logs I have very much and particularly the burning embers.

We have a Heat n Glo Gas FP. Our neighbors recently installed two HnG gas inserts as they liked our gas FP.